music international rumba count

MPM (measures per minute) and BPM (beats per minute)
Rumba is danced to a slow 4/4 (4 beats per measure) time music.  The American style rumba is faster with 32-36 MPM or 128-144 BPM than the International rumba (27 MPM or 108 BPM), according to the NDCA (The National Dance Council of America’s rule book.

Breaking on 2
In addition to the differences in the tempo, counting for International rumba is different from the American rumba.  In the International style, dancers ‘break’ (start) on count 2, so the countihng for International is 2, 3, (4-1), where 2 and 3 are Quick and (4-1) is Slow.

Counting with the numbers
I find it more useful/beneficial to count using numbers rather than using QQS since it is easier to distinguish the two styles.  I had a hard time to switch to the international style counting.  I was taught the American style first for a little over a year, so Quicik, Quick, Slow (breaking on 1) was firmly ingrained in my brain.  I like rumba music and every time I hear a good rumba song, my body starts to move with the American timing of QQS.  The “breaking on 2″ did not make sense to me.  I did not feel the music.

Skip the first beat …. Listen to the drum, not the bass
then take a foward step with 2….  Easier said than done.  I could not even take the first step because the timing felt so awkward.  I am a lady, so I didn’t have any problems with timing as long as I was connected with the partner who knew the timing.  But the moment I was apart from him in my open routine, I got lost and naturally my timing went back to the American one.  Well, ladies (and gentleman), here is a tip.  Listn to the drum not the bass.  In most songs, the drummer is hitting 2 and 4, which helps alot for dancing International rumba.

Practice, practice, practice
Practice makes perfect…. that’s why the American rumba timing has become so natural to me, but I didn’t have any clue when I took my first lesson.  With lots of practice, anything can become second nature.  I started to listen to rumba songs whenever possible to get the feel of the International timing, then I started dancing to the music.  I am getting there.  Hopefully it will become natural for me soon.

and (&)
Of course, there’s more.  Advanced dancers use half-beat to collect feet, settle their hips, and complete the action.  They put ‘&’ in between to do that.  Probably, I will be able to talk about it later.